ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 11

Controversial Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychiatry: A Survey
Weinstock, R
Associate clinical professor of psychiatry, University of California, CA

(Received 9 April 1987; accepted 4 May 1987)

Abstract

A survey was conducted of members of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Science section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) to determine their ethical concerns about controversial items. Issues were included in the survey from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and AAFS Code of Ethics. Strong support was found for those issues. Some AAPL items from a previous version of their guidelines did not receive support. Fortunately, they have been modified in a later AAPL draft, after AAPL received this survey's results. Clarification was obtained on some ambiguous items from a previous AAFS survey. The present survey showed strong support for addressing in forensic psychiatry's ethical guidelines some issues previously considered too controversial.

Keywords:
psychiatry, ethics, privacy, doctor-patient privilege, survey, confidentiality, forensic psychiatry, criminal justice work, ethical guidelines, advocacy, hired gun, death penalty, right to refuse treatment, child abuse, Tarasoff, marijuana, bias, questionnaire

Paper ID: JFS12448J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12448J
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